STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

travelgirl · Kate Spade

Father in law issues and more

Cricket · Gucci

I think you need to calm down about this. He's your husband's father! My dad is VERY high maintenance too, and he drives my husband and I crazy, but if my hubby flipped out like you are, I'd be so pissed. He has every right to be mad, and if I were you, I'd apologize. It's just not worth the fight IMO. It's only Mother's Day. Do something special before they get there or "celebrate" it on Saturday. Maybe order pizza or take out for dinner so you don't have to cook. If you don't get over this, it will ruin your weekend and hurt your husbands feelings and his father's. You don't have to entertain them. Send them out to run an errand for you or help you do something around the house. Fathers usually love that kind of stuff. Makes them feel useful. Sorry to be harsh, I know you don't want to feel this way, but you really need to think of your husband, not just you. Good luck!

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

For what it's worth, I think adjusting your attitude depends on why exactly you're upset. Is it because this interferes with getting credit for mother's day? Because they're taking time away from your family? It sounds like it has something to do with your husband, since his compromise made you feel so much better. But I'm not sure what. Do you want him to spend more time with you? Do you want him to take your side more with his family? Or do you just want him to listen more?

I guess what I'm saying is it could be a lot of things, and you sound really upset, so it's probably a good idea to try to identify exactly what it is about this situation that has you feeling this way. Why is mother's day something you don't want other people around for? Why does it feel like such an imposition to entertain? I believe you have legitimate answers to those questions, or you wouldn't be feeling so upset. But I also believe it's not the situation, it's something about the situation that has hit a real nerve for you. If you can figure out what that nerve is, you'll be able to explain it to your husband much better. Does that make sense?